HOUSTON, TX, February 13, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The PenCraft Seasonal Book Awards for Winter 2026 celebrates 63 exceptional works of literature. We're delighted to honor these talented authors for their dedication, powerful storytelling, and engaging prose. This varied collection spans genres—from adult and children's literature to nonfiction and beyond—highlighting the finest publications of the Winter season.

Our 2026 Winter PenCraft Book Awards proudly recognize a diverse group of winners, including Allen Wolf, whose The Sound of Violet was adapted into a film; Mark Dickson, whose Enemy at the Helm resonates strongly with today's political turbulence; and former football star Todd Marinovich, whose biography was also a standout in this year's competition.

We help authors gain recognition and get their books noticed. The PenCraft Book Awards shine a light on talented writers who might otherwise be lost in a crowded market. Our winners represent the best in the field, demonstrating creativity, compelling storytelling, and fresh perspectives.

As we pursue personal growth and social progress, literature remains a powerful source of insight and inspiration. It lets us encounter new perspectives, question our assumptions, and broaden our understanding.

Editor-in-Chief David Hearne stated, "We believe that our seasonal PenCraft Book Awards help struggling authors get their books noticed and sold. Our winning authors represent the absolute best in the industry. Our goal is to introduce the world to talented new authors and their extraordinary creations."

Below is a list of the books that have met PenCraft's rigorous standards and earned a coveted Seasonal PenCraft Book Award.

Children Genre Best Book Winners
The Turquoise Butterfly By: Dale Atkins For Genre: Children - Dealing With Emotions Published by: Mascot Kids!
The Snow Globe By: Katherine Lockwood For Genre: Children - Preschool Published by: Acorn Cottage Press
Not Logan By: Melanie Hunter For Genre: Children - Preteen Published by: Legends Ink Publishing
The Boy Who Lives on Prickinjer Place By: Ann Fleming For Genre: Children Fantasy & Magic Published by: Kahu Publishing
Holly and the Magic Bunny By: Kateryna Dronova For Genre: Children K-3rd - General Published by: Learn more

Best Christian Book Winners:
Caroline's Purpose By: Erica Zaborac For Genre: Christian - Fiction Published by: Torchflame Books
Reliquary of the Dead By: David Falk For Genre: Christian Fiction General Published by: Lagomorph Rampant Studios
The Basement Angel By: LeeAnn McChristian For Genre: Christian Fiction General Published by: Inscript Books
A Certain Mercy By: Linda Dindzans For Genre: Christian Fiction Historical Published by: Scrivenings Press LLC

Best Fiction Book Winners:
DRINKING FROM THE STREAM By: RICHARD SCOTT SACKS For Genre: Fiction - Adventure Published by: Koehler Books
The Gift By: C. D'Angelo For Genre: Fiction - Chick Lit Published by: C. D'Angelo
Murder Is Revealing By: Michelle Corbier For Genre: Fiction - Cozy Mysteries Published by: Michelle Corbier
The Dawn of Vesper By: Melody Kepler For Genre: Fiction - Drama Published by: Kepler Production Studios, LLC
Darkness and Blight By: Dap Dahlstrom For Genre: Fiction - Fantasy Published by: Gardland Books
Vork Chronicles Welcome to Superhero School By: Gracie Dix For Genre: Fiction - Fantasy Published by: Toast Industries
Escala's Wish: An action-adventure (Tales of Valla) By: David James For Genre: Fiction - Fantasy Published by: Trash Panda Publishing
Finding Sutton's Choice By: Brenda Haas For Genre: Fiction - General Published by: Ten16 Press
The Four Queens of Buttonbush the Museum By: Beth Brookhart For Genre: Fiction - Humor Published by: Sibylline Press
St. Aster's Grave Secret By: Connie Chappell For Genre: Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth Published by: 4am Books
Hazelnuts and Homicide: A Bonne Année Mystery By: N E Carlisle For Genre: Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth Published by: Plot Twist LLC
An Epiphany in Lilacs By: Iris Dorbian For Genre: Fiction - Realistic Published by: Milford House Press
Call the Wind Mariah: By: W.W. Hennemann For Genre: Fiction - Science-fiction Published by: Dystopian Future Press
Bad Americans: Part I By: Tejas Desai For Genre: Fiction - Short Stories/ Anthologies Published by: New Wei LLC, The
Six Stories Up- Tales of Whimsy, Imagination, and Hey, A Little Satisfying Comeuppance By: Kregg P.J. Jorgenson For Genre: Fiction - Short Stories/ Anthologies Published by: Booklocker.com
Swimming with Manatees By: Bill Bennett For Genre: Fiction - Suspense Published by: BillBenn Books
Echoes of Fortune: Shadows Over Cozumel By: David Leng For Genre: Fiction - Thriller - General Published by: White Publishing
Boardroom Assassin By: Ron Hare For Genre: Fiction - Thriller - General Published by: Independently published
Final Exam By: Lou Pugliese For Genre: Fiction - Thriller - General Published by: Louis Pugliese
Run Cindy Run By: Lana McAra For Genre: Fiction - Thriller - General Published by: Vendela Publishing
Enemy At The Helm By: Mark Dickson For Genre: Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist Published by: River Grove Books
DoubleHelix: Book One in the Helix Project By: J.L Calder For Genre: Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist Audio Book Published by: Dwyer Street Press
Did You Have the Life You Wanted? By: Andrea Simon For Genre: Fiction - Women's Published by: Sibylline Press
Harriet Hates Lemonade By: Kim McCollum For Genre: Fiction - Women's Published by: Black Rose Writing

Best Nonfiction & Poetry/Music Book Winners:
The Golden Age of Bull$hit By: Mario Tufano For Genre: Nonfiction - Business/Finance Published by: GABS Media, LLC
BALANCE WALKING and FALL PREVENTION By: Tracy Markley For Genre: Nonfiction - Health - Fitness Published by: Independently published
I'm Not Dead Yet: How I Turned My Misfortunes into Strengths By: Dr. Joshua Caraballo For Genre: Nonfiction - Memoir Published by: PublishDrive
To Kill a Cockroach By: Osvaldo Amador For Genre: Nonfiction - Memoir Published by: osvaldo c. amador
Your Time to Rise By: Arivee Vargas For Genre: Nonfiction - Self Help Published by: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Marinovich By: Todd Marinovich For Genre: Best Book for Nonfiction – Sports Published by Matt Holt Books
Focused Mind By: Ossama Khalaf For Genre: Nonfiction - Self Help Published by: Ossama Khalaf
The Other Birds & Bees By: Scott & Victoria Kyle For Genre: Nonfiction Business/Finance Published by: selfpublishing.com
The Pursuit of Badasserie By Lynn Howard & Amanda Furgiuele For Genre : Best Book for Nonfiction Business/Finance Published by: Independently published
The Science of Leadership By: Margaret Moore Jeffrey Hull For Genre: Nonfiction Business/Finance Published by: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
The Price of Nice By: Amira Barger For Genre: Nonfiction Business/Finance Published by: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Compassionate Accountability By: Nate Regier For Genre: Nonfiction Business/Finance Published by: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Expositions & World's Fairs: In the Beginning By: Bob Mcglincy For Genre: Nonfiction Business/Finance Published by: Monponsett Press
Kinker Circusing the Seventies By: Dave Letterfly Knoderer For Genre: Nonfiction Memoir Published by: Independently published
The Parts of Him I Kept By: Natasha Williams For Genre: Nonfiction Memoir Published by: Apprentice House
Motion Dazzle: A Memoir of Motherhood, Loss, and Skating on Thin Ice By: Jocelyn Jane Cox For Genre: Nonfiction Memoir Published by: Vine Leaves Press
Uncorked: A Memoir of Letting Go and Starting Over By: Mary Alice Stephens For Genre: Nonfiction Motivational Published by: Sibylline Press
The Courage Gap By: Margie Warrell For Genre: Nonfiction Motivational Published by: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
They''re Coming for Your Elders and Your Inheritance: Ways to Protect Your Family, Mitigate the Damage, and Change the System By: Leonie Rosenstiel For Genre: Nonfiction Relationships Published by: Dayspring Resources
The 7 Universal Laws: The Hidden Rules Behind the Mind, Emotions, and the Architecture of the Universe By: Stefan Irimia Monica Ion For Genre: Nonfiction Self help Published by: Inspired Life Circle LLC
Human Resources By: Erin Murphy For Genre: Poetry/Music Published by: Grayson Books

Best Romance Winners:
Marianne: A Sense and Sensibility Sequel By: Alice McVeigh For Genre: Romance - Historical Published by: Warleigh Hall Press
The Sound of Violet, 10th Anniversary Edition By: Allen Wolf For Genre: Romance Contemporary Published by: Morning Star Publishing
Sleeping with my Succubus By: Pamela Summers For Genre: Romance Erotica Published by: Dirty Cat Press
Angel Redeemed, Watchers and Warriors Series, Book I By: Ines Gray For Genre: Romance Fantasy Sci-Fi Published by: Pegasus Publishers
Passion's Duty: Romance and the American Ranger, Book One By: Lizzie Jenks For Genre: Romance Historical Published by: Wheel Horse Press

Young Adult Best Book Winners:
Heirs of Empire By: S A Melia For Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy/Sci-fi Published by: Dickson House
Journey to Superhero School: An Oliver and Jessica Prequel to The Vork Chronicles By: Gracie Dix For Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy/Sci-fi Published by: Toast Industries
Ray Taylor and the Torn and Tattered Treasure Map By: N. Degen For Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy/Sci-Fi Published by: Independently published

The PenCraft Seasonal Book Award competition is an inclusive literary contest that celebrates all authors and their incredible works. PenCraft's mission is to inspire authors and give every writer a fair chance at recognition. With hundreds of nominated books, only the best wins a prestigious PenCraft Book Award. As Editor-In-Chief David Hearne proudly states, "We believe that our seasonal PenCraft Book Awards help authors get their books noticed and sold. Our winning authors represent the absolute best in the industry. Our goal is to introduce to the world these talented authors and their extraordinary literary works"

Founded in 2016, the PenCraft Book Awards was established with the mission of creating a fair and inclusive platform for all authors. All submissions, whether self-published, from a small press, or traditionally published, are judged equally using the same criteria. Our contests are designed to focus purely on the literary merit of each submission, without being influenced by an author's prior reputation or level of recognition. Every book is carefully judged based on its creativity, the strength of its storytelling, its ability to captivate and engage readers, and its overall literary quality. By prioritizing these elements, PenCraft Book Awards ensures that talent and originality take center stage.

From its inception, the PenCraft Book Awards has supported authors worldwide and is committed to finding new methods to assist and to acknowledge their creative work.

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